DOCSLIB.ORG

China Moves to Impose National Security Law on Hong Kong

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
China Moves to Impose National Security Law on Hong Kong June 4, 2020 China Moves to Impose National Security Law on Hong Kong Overview by the Basic Law “as soon as possible.” In addition, Hong China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), Kong’s Chief Executive is instructed to “effectively on May 28, 2020, adopted a decision authorizing its prevent, stop, and punish acts and activities endangering Standing Committee (NPCSC) to write national security national security,” carry out national security education in laws that will apply only to China’s Hong Kong Special Hong Kong, and report regularly to Beijing about Hong Administrative Region (HKSAR). The decision also Kong’s national security work. requires the HKSAR government to pass local legislation to protect China’s national security, although previous Finally, the decision states, “When needed, relevant attempts to pass national security legislation in the city have national security organs of the Central People’s failed in the face of massive public protests. Government will set up agencies in the HKSAR to fulfill relevant duties to safeguard national security in accordance Many observers see the NPC decision as a violation of with the law.” It is unclear if these agencies will be China’s obligations under two of Hong Kong’s branches of the national security organs, Hong Kong foundational documents. The first is the 1984 Sino-British entities, or some form of joint entities. China’s central Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong, the government currently maintains in Hong Kong a Liaison international treaty on the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Office, an Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Kong from the United Kingdom to China on July 1, 1997. Foreign Affairs, and a garrison of 12,000 People’s The second is China’s Basic Law of the HKSAR of 1990, Liberation Army soldiers. which established the HKSAR. Both documents state that the HKSAR is to enjoy a “high degree of autonomy, except Next Steps in foreign and defence affairs” and that the “rights and freedoms” of the people of Hong Kong will remain Beijing unchanged until at least 2047. Many observers also view The NPC decision does not set a timeframe for the NPCSC the NPC’s decision as contrary to China’s “one country, to write the national security legislation or for central two systems” policy, under which the people of Hong Kong government national security organs to establish agencies in are to govern Hong Kong. China insists the moves are the HKSAR. The NPCSC, a select group of 159 of the full necessary to “maintain and improve” the “one country, two NPC’s nearly 3,000 delegates, has the authority to pass systems” policy in a situation in which it believes the “one legislation on its own, without having to return it to the full country” part of the formula has come under threat from parliament for a vote. Once the NPCSC adopts the advocates for resistance to China’s central government in authorized national security laws, the NPC decision allows Beijing. the NPCSC to decide to add the laws to the list of national laws applicable to the HKSAR in Annex III of the Basic On May 29, 2020, President Donald J. Trump accused Law. The NPCSC meets approximately every two months. China of extending “the reach of China’s invasive state It last met on May 18, 2020. security apparatus into what was formerly a bastion of liberty,” and of doing so in violation of the Joint Hong Kong Declaration and the Basic Law. In response, the President To comply with the NPC decision, the HKSAR government said he would “begin the process of eliminating policy and Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (Legco) must pass exemptions that give Hong Kong different and special the local legislation required by Article 23 of the Basic Law treatment.” He did not specify a timeframe for action. (See below). In addition, the HKSAR government is Multiple bills related to protecting Hong Kong’s autonomy required to “promulgate and implement” the NPCSC- are pending in the U.S. Congress. drafted national security legislation. NPC Decision The NPC decision authorizes the NPCSC to “formulate” Article 23 of the Basic Law—The Hong Kong and impose on Hong Kong legislation “to improve the Special Administrative Region shall enact laws on its HKSAR legal system and enforcement mechanisms.” The own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, legislation is to “effectively prevent, stop, and punish acts subversion against the Central People’s Government, and activities to split the country, subvert state power, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organize and carry out terrorist activities, and other organizations or bodies from conducting political behaviors that seriously endanger national security, as well activities in the Region, and to prohibit political as activities of foreign and external forces to interfere in the organizations or bodies of the Region from affairs of the HKSAR.” establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies. The NPC decision also states that the HKSAR government should complete local national security legislation required https://crsreports.congress.gov China Moves to Impose National Security Law on Hong Kong Reasons for the NPC Action activists claim mainland security personnel were already NPCSC Vice Chairman Wang Chen on May 22, 2020, secretly working with the Hong Kong Police Force. alleged a surge in national security risks in Hong Kong over the last year justified the need for the NPC decision. He U.S. Response highlighted calls for Hong Kong independence, attacks on On May 27, 2020, before passage of the NPC decision, the Chinese national flag and national emblem, efforts to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo informed Congress, “incite” the people of Hong Kong to be “anti-China” and under the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (USHKPA) “anti-Communist Party of China,” activists’ “besieging” (P.L. 102-383), of his certification that Hong Kong does not Chinese government’s institutions in Hong Kong, and continue to warrant treatment under U.S. law in the same alleged efforts to “discriminate against and exclude” people manner as before its handover to China on July 1, 1997. In from mainland China. Wang lashed out, too, at external his May 29 remarks, President Trump said his new forces for providing “support and an umbrella for the anti- approach to Hong Kong would “affect the full range of China forces disrupting Hong Kong.” Wang also argued agreements we have with Hong Kong, from our extradition that the HKSAR government’s failure for the last 23 years treaty to our export controls on dual-use technologies and to comply with Article 23 of the Basic Law made the NPC more, with few exceptions.” He also said the State decision necessary. Department would revise its travel advisory for Hong Kong “to reflect the increased danger of surveillance and A 2003 effort by the HKSAR government to pass Article 23 punishment by the Chinese state security apparatus.” legislation prompted an estimated 500,000-person protest and the subsequent resignation of then-Hong Kong Statements by China and the HKSAR Secretary of Security and now Legco member Regina Ip Government Lau Suk-yee. Many observers consider the 2003 protest a After a June 3, 2020, meeting in Beijing with Chinese Vice significant factor in China’s loss of support for then-Hong Premier Han Zheng, Chief Executive Lam said Han had Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, and his decision to reiterated to her that the new national security legislation resign in March 2005. (Officially, he resigned for health would target only “a small minority” of “criminals” in reasons.) No subsequent Chief Executive has submitted Hong Kong. On May 28, 2020, Chief Executive Lam legislation to Legco to fulfill the requirements of Article 23 welcomed the NPC’s decision, stating the NPCSC’s of the Basic Law. national security law “will not affect the legitimate rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents.” Lam also Some Chinese officials and Hong Kong politicians called acknowledged “that the Hong Kong SAR still has the legal for passage of Article 23 legislation after the 2014 pro- responsibility to enact legislation in accordance with Article democracy Umbrella Movement shut down portions of the 23 of the Basic Law and should complete the legislation to city for nearly three months. Those calls increased in safeguard national security as soon as possible.” intensity following the outbreak of large-scale demonstrations in 2019 in response to the HKSAR’s Issues for Congress attempt to revise a local ordinance to allow extraditions to It remains unclear how President Trump might implement mainland China. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet- his new policies on Hong Kong. The USHKPA authorizes ngor declined to introduce Article 23 legislation, however, the President to determine in an Executive Order “that maintaining that conditions in Hong Kong were not suitable Hong Kong is not sufficiently autonomous to justify for addressing such a contentious issue. treatment under a particular law of the United States, or any provision thereof, different from that accorded the People’s Implications for Hong Kong Republic of China.” The NPC’s approval of the decision has started a process that may result in the people of Hong Kong being subject to In 2019, Congress passed the Hong Kong Human Rights national security laws imposed by China’s central and Democracy Act (P.L. 116-76) in response to the government that are broader in scope than what is required proposed changes to the HKSAR’s extradition law and to by Article 23 of the Basic Law. For example, the NPC provide support to the protesters.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • China's Global Media Footprint
    February 2021 SHARP POWER AND DEMOCRATIC RESILIENCE SERIES China’s Global Media Footprint Democratic Responses to Expanding Authoritarian Influence by Sarah Cook ABOUT THE SHARP POWER AND DEMOCRATIC RESILIENCE SERIES As globalization deepens integration between democracies and autocracies, the compromising effects of sharp power—which impairs free expression, neutralizes independent institutions, and distorts the political environment—have grown apparent across crucial sectors of open societies. The Sharp Power and Democratic Resilience series is an effort to systematically analyze the ways in which leading authoritarian regimes seek to manipulate the political landscape and censor independent expression within democratic settings, and to highlight potential civil society responses. This initiative examines emerging issues in four crucial arenas relating to the integrity and vibrancy of democratic systems: • Challenges to free expression and the integrity of the media and information space • Threats to intellectual inquiry • Contestation over the principles that govern technology • Leverage of state-driven capital for political and often corrosive purposes The present era of authoritarian resurgence is taking place during a protracted global democratic downturn that has degraded the confidence of democracies. The leading authoritarians are ABOUT THE AUTHOR challenging democracy at the level of ideas, principles, and Sarah Cook is research director for China, Hong Kong, and standards, but only one side seems to be seriously competing Taiwan at Freedom House. She directs the China Media in the contest. Bulletin, a monthly digest in English and Chinese providing news and analysis on media freedom developments related Global interdependence has presented complications distinct to China. Cook is the author of several Asian country from those of the Cold War era, which did not afford authoritarian reports for Freedom House’s annual publications, as regimes so many opportunities for action within democracies.
    [Show full text]
  • How the Resource Curse Affects Urban Development in East Timor
    The Sustainable City V 495 How the resource curse affects urban development in East Timor I. M. Madaleno Portuguese Tropical Research Institute, Lisbon Abstract East Timor is heavily reliant upon royalty and taxation revenues from petroleum and natural gas resources. Poor management of natural resources revenue has given ground for the nation to fall victim to the ‘resource curse’. This paper provides an overview of the country’s recent history whilst characterising its energy resources availability and case-studying a stressing and omnipresent urban problem: the persistence of internal displaced people (idps) living in refugee camps within Dili district. The objective of this contribution is to describe sample research conducted in the capital city of the first 21st century nation on Earth, so as to evaluate with empirical data how the wealth of natural resources is being used both to improve East Timorese daily lives and to regenerate the urban tissue. Keywords: resource curse, refugee camps, urban regeneration, Dili, East Timor. 1 Introduction Asian tigers – South Korea, Taiwan, Hong-Kong and Singapore – are resource- poor countries. East Timor as well as Angola, both former Portuguese colonies, are resource-rich, exhibiting poor economic growth performances and displaying high levels of poverty (see table 1). The quality of local institutions is decisive, though, for there is no curse that cannot be lifted [1, 2]. It is widely accepted that good governance and a strong juridical and institutional framework tend to minimise the ill consequences of the mineral and energy resources privilege both on common people and on political leaders. Weak administration of revenues by contrast can lead to financial resources waste and environmental constrains on grounds of political mismanagement and corruption as on easy money availability excesses.
    [Show full text]
  • Discourse, Social Scales, and Epiphenomenality of Language Policy: a Case Study of a Local, Hong Kong NGO
    Discourse, Social Scales, and Epiphenomenality of Language Policy: A Case Study of a Local, Hong Kong NGO Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Tso, Elizabeth Ann Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 27/09/2021 12:25:43 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/623063 DISCOURSE, SOCIAL SCALES, AND EPIPHENOMENALITY OF LANGUAGE POLICY: A CASE STUDY OF A LOCAL, HONG KONG NGO by Elizabeth Ann Tso __________________________ Copyright © Elizabeth Ann Tso 2017 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the GRADUATE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND TEACHING In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2017 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Dissertation Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Elizabeth Tso, titled Discourse, Social Scales, and Epiphenomenality of Language Policy: A Case Study of a Local, Hong Kong NGO, and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. _______________________________________________ Date: (January 13, 2017) Perry Gilmore _______________________________________________ Date: (January 13, 2017) Wenhao Diao _______________________________________________ Date: (January 13, 2017) Sheilah Nicholas Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate’s submission of the final copies of the dissertation to the Graduate College.
    [Show full text]
  • Hong Kong: Key Issues in 2021
    December 23, 2020 Hong Kong: Key Issues in 2021 The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR, country or with external elements to endanger national or Hong Kong) is a city located off the southern coast of security.” The NPCSC and the HKSAR government have Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC or stated that the NSL was necessary to restore order China). More than 90% of Hong Kong’s population is following the large-scale protests of 2019. For more about ethnically Chinese. The first language of the vast majority the 2019 protests, see CRS In Focus IF11295, Hong Kong’s is Cantonese, a variety of Chinese different from what is Protests of 2019. spoken in most of the PRC. Hong Kong at a Glance Under the provisions of a 1984 international treaty known Population (2020): 7.5 million as the “Joint Declaration,” sovereignty over Hong Kong Area: 1,082 square kilometers (418 square miles) transferred from the United Kingdom to the PRC on July 1, Per Capita GDP (2019): HK$381,714 (US$48,938) 1997. In the Joint Declaration, China pledged the former British colony “will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, Life Expectancy (at birth, 2018): Men: 82.2 years; except in foreign and defence affairs,” and “will be vested Women: 88.1 years with executive, legislative and independent judicial power, Leadership: Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor including that of final adjudication.” China also promised Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department that the “[r]ights and freedoms, including those of the person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) has arrested dozens of travel, of movement, of correspondence, of strike, of of people for alleged NSL violations.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction Historical Context
    INTRODUCTION China-Africa ties have expanded beyond trade and investment in extractive industries to engagement in telecommunications, infrastructure, manufacturing, finance, media, agriculture and peace and security issues. HISTORICAL CONTEXT While not as well documented as Africa’s links with Europe, China-Africa relations date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when a series of expeditions reached East Africa under the command of Admiral Zheng He, at roughly the same time as the Portuguese were exploring Africa’s Atlantic coast. However, formal political relations were only forged during the early years of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (1949), which intersected with the first wave of African independence. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence were originally established in 1954 by India’s prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Chinese premier, Zhou Enlai. These principles rose to popularity during the 1955 Bandung Conference – which paved the way for the founding of the Non-Aligned Movement – and have become an important basis for China’s foreign policy and its relations with Africa and Asia. China’s support for Africa’s liberation also played an influential role in shaping the outcomes of newly independent states. 2015 is also 60 years since the 1955 Bandung Asian-African conference, a turning point of world history when for the first time representatives of the former colonised nations united and proposed alternatives to a world order dominated by superpowers. - Remarks by African Union Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 30 January 2015. …The relationship between ourselves and China is founded, as the Prime Minister reminded us recently, on four basic principles: treating each other sincerely and equally; consolidating solidarity and mutual trust; jointly pursuing inclusive development; and promoting inventive practical cooperation between our countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion in China BKGA 85 Religion Inchina and Bernhard Scheid Edited by Max Deeg Major Concepts and Minority Positions MAX DEEG, BERNHARD SCHEID (EDS.)
    Religions of foreign origin have shaped Chinese cultural history much stronger than generally assumed and continue to have impact on Chinese society in varying regional degrees. The essays collected in the present volume put a special emphasis on these “foreign” and less familiar aspects of Chinese religion. Apart from an introductory article on Daoism (the BKGA 85 BKGA Religion in China proto­typical autochthonous religion of China), the volume reflects China’s encounter with religions of the so-called Western Regions, starting from the adoption of Indian Buddhism to early settlements of religious minorities from the Near East (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) and the early modern debates between Confucians and Christian missionaries. Contemporary Major Concepts and religious minorities, their specific social problems, and their regional diversities are discussed in the cases of Abrahamitic traditions in China. The volume therefore contributes to our understanding of most recent and Minority Positions potentially violent religio-political phenomena such as, for instance, Islamist movements in the People’s Republic of China. Religion in China Religion ∙ Max DEEG is Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Cardiff. His research interests include in particular Buddhist narratives and their roles for the construction of identity in premodern Buddhist communities. Bernhard SCHEID is a senior research fellow at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on the history of Japanese religions and the interaction of Buddhism with local religions, in particular with Japanese Shintō. Max Deeg, Bernhard Scheid (eds.) Deeg, Max Bernhard ISBN 978-3-7001-7759-3 Edited by Max Deeg and Bernhard Scheid Printed and bound in the EU SBph 862 MAX DEEG, BERNHARD SCHEID (EDS.) RELIGION IN CHINA: MAJOR CONCEPTS AND MINORITY POSITIONS ÖSTERREICHISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN PHILOSOPHISCH-HISTORISCHE KLASSE SITZUNGSBERICHTE, 862.
    [Show full text]
  • The Chief Executive's 2020 Policy Address
    The Chief Executive’s 2020 Policy Address Striving Ahead with Renewed Perseverance Contents Paragraph I. ‌Foreword: Striving Ahead 1–3 II. ‌Full Support of the Central Government 4–8 III. ‌Upholding “One Country, Two Systems” 9–29 Staying True to Our Original Aspiration 9–10 Improving the Implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” 11–20 The Chief Executive’s Mission 11–13 Hong Kong National Security Law 14–17 National Flag, National Emblem and National Anthem 18 Oath-taking by Public Officers 19–20 Safeguarding the Rule of Law 21–24 Electoral Arrangements 25 Public Finance 26 Public Sector Reform 27–29 IV. ‌Navigating through the Epidemic 30–35 Staying Vigilant in the Prolonged Fight against the Epidemic 30 Together, We Fight the Virus 31 Support of the Central Government 32 Adopting a Multi-pronged Approach 33–34 Sparing No Effort in Achieving “Zero Infection” 35 Paragraph V. ‌New Impetus to the Economy 36–82 Economic Outlook 36 Development Strategy 37 The Mainland as Our Hinterland 38–40 Consolidating Hong Kong’s Status as an International Financial Centre 41–46 Maintaining Financial Stability and Striving for Development 41–42 Deepening Mutual Access between the Mainland and Hong Kong Financial Markets 43 Promoting Real Estate Investment Trusts in Hong Kong 44 Further Promoting the Development of Private Equity Funds 45 Family Office Business 46 Consolidating Hong Kong’s Status as an International Aviation Hub 47–49 Three-Runway System Development 47 Hong Kong-Zhuhai Airport Co-operation 48 Airport City 49 Developing Hong Kong into
    [Show full text]
  • Turkey and China
    TURKEY AND CHINA MEHMET ÖGÜTÇÜ I. INTRODUCTION The world is waking up to the fact that China is becoming a new economic superpower. In just one and a half decades, China has transformed itself from a dormant, introspective giant into a dynamic powerhouse of major significance to the world economy. It currently provides the only major, rapidly growing economy in an otherwise recession-hit world. Western exporters, multinationals and emerging market investors are looking to China almost as if it were a new El Dorado. The strategic centre of gravity is also shifting towards China and other dynamic Asia-Pacific nations, bringing about fundamental changes in traditional balance-of-power equations. Geographically, this 'Rising East'1 encompasses a vast triangle that extends from the Russian far east and Korea in the northeast, to Australia in the south and Pakistan in the west. It seems that the twenty-first century will be shaped by new racial and cultural forces. For several hundred years, the world has been dominated by white Europeans and Americans who hold to Judaeo-Christian traditions and they will soon be obliged to accept as equals yellow and brown Asians who adhere to the tenets of Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Islam. In the next twenty years, Asia, currently home to more than half the world population, will most likely have five of the world's six largest economies, the US being the other. China has emerged as the rising star of the entire region, economically and politically. In ancient times, so strong was China that its people became accustomed to thinking of their country as the Middle Kingdom or Zhungguo, the centre around which all else revolved.
    [Show full text]
  • Hong Kong (China)
    126 Hong Kong (China) A. Progress in the implementation of the minimum standard Hong Kong (China) has 41 tax agreements in force, as reported in its response to the Peer Review questionnaire. Three of those agreements, the agreements with Belarus*, Estonia and Finland, comply with the minimum standard. Hong Kong (China) joined the MLI in 2017 and has not listed its agreements with India and Saudi Arabia. It indicated in its response to the Peer Review questionnaire that it would list those agreements under the MLI. India and Saudi Arabia have listed their agreements with Hong Kong (China) under the MLI. Hong Kong (China) is implementing the minimum standard through the inclusion of the preamble statement and the PPT.61 The agreements that will be modified by the MLI will come into compliance with the minimum standard once the provisions of the MLI take effect. B. Implementation issues Hong Kong (China)’s listed agreements under the MLI will start to be compliant after the ratification of the MLI. It is encouraged that the MLI be ratified as soon as possible. Summary of the jurisdiction response – Hong Kong (China) Treaty partners Compliance If compliant, Signature of The alternative Comments with the the alternative a complying implemented through the standard implemented instrument complying instrument (if not the MLI) 1 Austria No N/A Yes N/A 2 Belarus* Yes PPT alone N/A N/A 3 Belgium No N/A Yes N/A 4 Brunei Darussalam No N/A Yes N/A 5 Cambodia* No N/A No N/A To be added to the list of agreements that Hong Kong wishes to cover under the MLI or through bilateral negotiations of an amending protocol 6 Canada No N/A Yes N/A 7 Czech Republic No N/A Yes N/A 8 Estonia Yes PPT alone N/A N/A 9 Finland Yes PPT alone N/A N/A 61 For 35 of its agreements listed under the MLI, Hong Kong is implementing the preamble statement (Article 6 of the MLI).
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Integration Between Hong Kong, Taiwan and The
    OECD Economic Studies No . 20. Spring 1993 ECONOMIC INTEGRATION BETWEEN HONG KONG. TAIWAN AND THE COASTAL PROVINCES OF CHINA Randall S. Jones. Robert E . King and Michael Klein CONTENTS Introduction ...................................................... 116 1. Economic integration within the CEA ............................. 118 A . Trade .................................................. 118 B. Foreign direct investment ................................... 123 C . Other linkages ........................................... 127 D. Impact of integration within the CEA .......................... 128 II . Forces driving integration ...................................... 130 A . Resource endowments ...................................... 130 B . Revealed comparative advantage ............................ 133 C . The role of policies ........................................ 134 D . Political ties ............................................. 137 E . Rapid growth despite policy distortions ......................... 138 Ill. Outlook .................................................... 139 Bibliography .................................................... 1.43 Randall S . Jones and Robert E. King are economists in the Foreign Trade and Investment Division of the Economics Department. Michael Klein. who was formerly employed in the same division. now works at the World Bank . The authors would like to thank Sveinbjorn Blondal. Michael P . Feiner. Nicholas Vanston and Bernard Wacquez for their comments and suggestions. 115 INTRODUCTION During the past
    [Show full text]
  • Religious Beliefs and Environmental Behaviors in China
    religions Article Religious Beliefs and Environmental Behaviors in China Yu Yang 1,* and Shizhi Huang 2 1 Department of Public Administration and Moral Development Institute, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China 2 School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; yzfl[email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 3 January 2018; Accepted: 5 March 2018; Published: 7 March 2018 Abstract: The role of religion in the environment has yet to be empirically investigated in the country with the largest atheist population across the globe. Using data from the Chinese General Social Survey 2013, we examined the effects of religious beliefs on environmental behaviors in China. Dependent variables of private and public environmental behaviors were identified by factor analysis. The estimation revealed a contradictory result that most religious beliefs had negative effects on private environmental behaviors while having positive effects on public environmental behaviors. The findings suggest a religion–politics interactive mechanism to enhance pro-environmental behavior in China. Keywords: private and public environmental behaviors; Chinese religions; ecological civilization; government 1. Introduction Scholarly interest in studying the role of religion in the environment has received substantial attention for the past half-century. Since historian Lynn White(1967) argued that Judeo-Christianity with a domination ethic over nature had caused the ecological crisis, the consequences of the interactions between religions and the environment have been debated quite extensively in the literature (Berry 2013). With different perspectives and technical details as well as the multidimensional nature of environmental attitudes and actions, researchers have stimulated divergent results. Some researchers have provided empirical support for White’s argument (Dunlap and Van Liere 1984; Eckberg and Blocker 1989; Sherkat and Ellison 2007), while others held evidence with contrasting results (Boyd 1999; Shibley and Wiggins 1997).
    [Show full text]
  • Global Economy and China's Economy in 2021
    Global Economy and China’s Economy in 2021 Liqing Zhang Chief Economist of PwC China and Professor of the Central University of Finance and Economics December 2020 Global Economy and China’s Economy in 2021 Content 03 10 16 Uncertain and unbalanced global Significant risks to global finance in the Opportunities and challenges facing economy recovery post COVID-19 world China’s economy in 2021 Global Economy and China’s Economy in 2021 Uncertain and unbalanced global economy recovery Global Economy and China’s Economy in 2021 Uncertain and unbalanced global economy recovery (1) In April 2020, IMF substantially cut its IMF DataMappar Real GDP growth (Annual percent chage, 2020) growth forecasts for 2020: • Global economy would shrink by 3% in 2020 (IMF forecasted 3% growth at the beginning of the year) • Global economy would suffer from the worst recession since the “Great Depression”. • Nearly 90% of the countries recorded negative growth, the most extensive economic recession in the past 150 years. 6% or more 3%-6% 0-3% 90% -3%-0 less than -3% of the countries no data recorded negative growth Source: IMF, 2020, World Economic Outlook (April 2020) Global Economy and China’s Economy in 2021 4 Uncertain and unbalanced global economy recovery (2) Critical factor: COVID-19 The pandemic situation is still severe; China, Russia, the US and other countries are speeding up vaccine development, which is expected to make a difference. Trend of domestic/overseas newly confirmed cases Domestic Unit: case Overseas Domestic/Overseas newly Overseas cumulative Overseas cured confirmed cases cases/existing cases/deaths confirmed cases Global Economy and China’s Economy in 2021 5 Uncertain and unbalanced global economy recovery (3) According to IMF forecast in October: • World economy would shrink by 4.4% due to COVID-19, 4.3% for the US, 8.3% in Eurozone, and 3.3% for emerging market economies (EMEs), while China was expected to have a 1.9% growth.
    [Show full text]